Corporate Philosophy
Promoting Wellness and Clean Water
President’s Message
What’s gentle on people is also gentle on nature.
At Shabondama Soap, we manufacture and sell soap that is free of synthetic chemicals and additives.
While the world is increasingly focused on building sustainable societies, issues like pollution, harm from pharmaceuticals, and environmental destruction are becoming more severe, and it often takes many years to uncover their causes. However, traditional soap made from natural ingredients has a long history that proves both its safety and effectiveness.
That’s why we are committed to additive-free soap.
We are committed to contributing to society by creating products that can be used in harmony with nature and preserve the safety and well-being of all living things. We also focus on product development, using our expertise in production to keep offering solutions that make your everyday life more comfortable.
Thank you for your continued support, we look forward to building a better world together with you.
Hayato Morita
President & CEO
SHABONDAMA SOAP Co., Ltd.
Company Overview
SHABONDAMA SOAP Co., Ltd.
Established
May, 1949
Head Office and Factory
2-23-1 Minamifutajima,
Wakamatsu-ku, Kitakyushu City,
Fukuoka 808-0195, Japan
TEL
+81-93-701-3181
Board of Directors
President & CEO: Hayato Morita
Executive Director: Michio Takahashi
Our Mascot “Shabon-chan”
"Shabon-chan" has become a beloved symbol, closely associated with Shabondama Soap products.
She was inspired by the daughter of Mitsunori Morita, our second President and CEO. When his daughter was just an infant, her pure, innocent smile captivated everyone. Morita believed, "A baby’s smile has the power to charm people of all ages. Babies are timeless symbols of love." This inspired him to choose his daughter as the model for the company’s mascot.
We dedicated significant time to the design, going through multiple revisions and paying close attention to every detail, to ensure Shabon-chan would represent the company for years to come.
In April 1975, Shabon-chan was officially born and made her debut on the packaging of our powdered soap, "Shabondama 95."
Today, a large image of Shabon-chan adorns the walls of our factory, and her innocent, refreshing smile continues to bring joy to our employees.
Our History
- February, 1910
- Morita Hanjiro Shoten (general goods store) founded in present-day Wakamatsu Ward, Kitakyushu City
- May, 1949
- Company incorporated as Morita Shoten Co., Ltd.
- March, 1964
- Former Chairman Mitsunori Morita became President of Morita Shoten. The main products at the time were synthetic detergents.
- March, 1971
- Order from Japan National Railways (present-day Japan Railways) for the development of an additive-free soap for washing rolling stock, as synthetic detergents were causing rust. Mitsunori was also struggling with a red rash on various parts of his body.
- April, 1971
- Birth of additive-free soap (composed of 96% soap and 5% water) that surpassed the Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) at the time. Mitsunori tested the product at home and, to his surprise, it cured the persistent eczema he had struggled with for years.
- August, 1974
- Resolving not to sell products harmful to the body, the company shifts from producing synthetic detergents to additive-free soap. Sales drop by 99% due to the mainstream popularity of synthetic detergents, and more than half of the employees are let go.
- March, 1975
- Shabondama Powdered Soap goes on sale.
- April, 1975
- Birth of the company mascot, Shabon-chan.
- May, 1975
- "Bar soap goes on sale. Shabondama Honpo Co., Ltd. is established."
- March, 1987
- Inauguration of a new factory (relocated to the current location) and company name changed to Shabondama Soap Co., Ltd. (Shabondama Sekken in Japanese).
- March, 1991
- Publication of Shizenryu Sekken Dokuhon (A Natural Soap Reader), marking a major turning point despite ongoing stagnation.
- February, 1995
- Inauguration of the head office and factory expansion.
- September, 1999
- Achieved ISO 14001 certification, the international standard for environmental management systems, across all four group companies.
- 2001
- Commenced full-scale development of an environmentally friendly, soap-based fire extinguishing agent with high extinguishing effectiveness, following a request from the Kitakyushu City Fire Department.
- July, 2006
- Launch of the first Shabondama Liquid Soap series.
- March, 2007
- Mitsunori Morita's eldest son, Hayato Morita, assumes the role of company president.
- September, 2007
- Former president Mitsunori Morita passes away.
- October, 2007
- Soap-based Class A fire extinguishing agent 'Miracle Foam' is officially launched after years of research.
- April, 2009
- Commenced full-scale research on soap-based Class A fire extinguishing agents for use in wildfires.
- December, 2009
- Establishment of the Infection Control Research Center to study the effects of soap on pathogens and develop infection control protocols for homes, medical facilities, schools, and elderly care settings.
- February 1, 2010
- 100th anniversary of the company.
- 2011
- Establishment of the Soap Research Center to study the benefits of soap and expand its applications to new areas.
- 2013
- Conducted a JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) project to develop and demonstrate the use of fire extinguishing agents for peatland and forest fires in Indonesia.
- 2020
- 110th anniversary of the business.
- 2021
- Jinoshima Field Study conducted on Jinoshima Island (Munakata City) to evaluate the impact of domestic wastewater on the ecosystem and life forms, highlighting the positive effects of switching to additive-free soap
- 2023
- Onsite research and field testing conducted in Palangkaraya (Indonesia) for Shabondama Natural Foam.
- 2024
- 50th anniversary of switching to additive-free soap production.
